Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1887-03-26
"Flood the place tonight, and let them

the secret OF his wealth.
"No, he won't, and Arden ordered the
affair settled"
Very we'll, I'll flood the place at mid
night fl om the mine"
The trap door was closed, the two men
disappeared. A hollow groan of despair
echoed through the dark, underground
vault.
Ellis started. Could this be the mys-
terious prisoner Crombe had referred to?
He crept toward the spot whence the
sound emanated, and then pausing, drew a
match from his pocket and ignited it.
It's flare showed a pale, wretched face
before him.
Great heayens!" calculated Ellis, ar
mold Bordell?"
Yes. yes, who speaks? That voice. 1t
is friend"
1T is an old friend, Arnold. Don't you
know me-Robert Ellis?"
1t was strange meeting. Ellis had sue
ceeded i'll his mission; he had found the
miss; ng Rordell.
In agitated tones he told Arnold all of
the story of the events succeeding his de-
parture from Elmvlle, and of his search
for him.
And IN return the bankers son reveal ed
the true mystery of his leaving his home.
1t was strange, tragic recital. and show
ed Arden to be a scoundrel, and Arnold the
victim of n deep, villainous plot"
The night of his disappearance he had
been induced by Arden to take walk
short distance into the country.
Suddenly he was seized from behind and
blind olded and gagged. Then he seemed
to be placed in a wagon, and long journey
was begun.
For several nights and days the wagon
4 4
few crusts of bread to eat.
The wagon was n covered one, and he
was kept in it, bound hand and foot.
One of his captors was the man Crom-
bic, and he had several companions.
From what he overheard CrOmbie say,
he realized that Arden had formed n terrible
plot against him.
The latter had changed his books at the
bank, cmbe2zled n large amount OF money,
and had forged letter purporting to be
written by Arnold, and confessing the crime.
Arden expected to win Mr.. Bordells con-
idence, marry his daughter, and secure his
fortune.
Crombie had orders to carry Arnold be-
You'd the hills and kill him in some lonely
mountain ravine, where his body would
never be discovered.
On the night of the tenth day of the
journey Arnold Bordell escaped.
He had managed to sever his bonds, and
sprang from the wagon and ran down
narrow mountain path.
His captors pursued him. He stumbled
and fell. They saw him disappear over the
edge of n cliff, and believed he had been
killed.
And now comes the strangest part of Ar
nold's story.
For days be wandered around, for he had
II. e~11
ing landed on a moss covered ledge of
rocks, and remained there until his captors
passed by.
He was ignorant of his situation, and
wandered here and there in hope Of reach
ing some human habitation, and subsisting
Oh wild fruits and fish.
He followed the course of little stream.
One day, where it passed through Sc
Guided ravine, he made most remarkable
discovery.
The sands of the stream were filed with
golden grains and nuggets.
He had made one of the richest finds Of
pure gold dust Ill the West.
He secured large bag full, and. after
marking the place. and being unable to
carry more away, started to find his way
back to Elmville, to unmask Arden, and
secure aid to return for the gold.
One week later, at nia htfall, he saw q
camp fire, and made his way toward it.
The next moment, when too late to
escape, he RECOGNIZED the men around it as
Crombie and his band.
That night he was removed to the rocky
cellar of the cabin they were now in.
Here he had languished, prisoner, ever
since.
Each day. little food was thown 10 him.
Each day, hi, captors endeavored to wrest
from him the secret of the gold mine,
whence he had obtained the treasure they
had found upon him.
This was his story. When he had con-
cluded Ellis remained thoughtful for some
time.
We must escape" he said, finally.
at is impossible" replied Arnold, hope
lese!v.
"iIo; bark do you hear that"
The sounds of the heavy blows of a pick
axe echoed from the outer wall of their
prison.
In flash Ellis comprehended what was
Transporting. Crombie's villainous asso-
ciatc was endeavoring to let in the water,
as or Tered, from some outside channel.
Can you SWIM" he asked of his COM
panion.
Yes, but l am very weak from my long
imprisonment.
lIen cllnS 10 llle. 1t ls 10 De Ii ueSper-
ate strug la for life"
1t proved to be so. The ensuing half
hour was the most suspenseful and event.
fu of their lives.
The water poured into the place, and
they were lifted on its surface.
Supporting Arnold, the dauntless Ellis
rose with the flood. At last he could feel
the f'oor of the cabin directly over his head.
lie pu~ he'd at the trap door. 1t opened.
The room above was dark and tenantless.
I'VE are saved" gasped Ellis, gratefully,
rs he climbed through the trap-door and
d ae ged Arnold alter him.
lie reclosed the trap, then they silently
stole from the cabin. Their escape had
not been discovered. They would not be
pursued, for Crombie and his men would
believe them dead.
by daylight Miners Valley vas miles
away, and they We're speeding away to lib
erty and to patient. anxious Bertha 30 dell.
Poor Bertha! Little did the faithful
Ellis dream OF all the startling events that
had occurred at Elmvlle since his depart
ure.
For, at the very hour when the fngitives
from Miners Valley were Fastening from
their recent prison, affairs ut the banker E
mansion had reached crisis.
Arden had made a proposal for the hand
of Bertha Bordell. She had courteously
but firmly refused him.
Arden had seen her father. The latter
favored his preference, but babe him wait
| patiently until Betha had forgotten her
former lover, Robert Ellis.